Governor Strickland says the state's current recession could worsen to a depression without federal assistance.

To underscore the state's need for a federal loan, Strickland asked agency directors to figure out what their departments would look like with 25 percent less money. The Department of Education said per pupil spending would have to be slashed.

But David Hansen of the Buckeye Institute suggests cutting the entire department since, he notes, the Department of Education does not educate any students.

The holiday shopping season is almost in full swing. But this year consumers may not be spending as much on gifts as the economy continues to slide south. In an effort to help customers and secure sales, retailers are pushing an old tradition - The layaway. Some retailers are aggressively pushing their plans, and at least one which had discontinued layaways, is bringing them back.

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce says the region's economy is still struggling. Chamber economist Bill Lafayette predicts less growth than in 2007.

"This year our average forecast is for growth of .4 percent. So, a touch less than last year." Lafayette says nearly all sectors, save transportation and warehousing have "underperformed." Housing is weak. Manufacturing is declining and Lafayette says retail employment will drop sharply this year.